An Organized Dorm is a Happy Dorm

Preparing for college is an exciting task. Between meeting your classmates online, finding a roommate, and getting ready for the big move, there’s so much to think about and plan for. One of the most exciting components of college preparation is deciding how to decorate a dormitory. Though most students think of bedspreads, towels, and wall decor when they start to plan their dorms, decorating a dorm is just as much about maximizing space as it is about selecting bedspreads and posters. Here are a few tips for dorm room organization that are sure to help you make use of the small space in a smart way.

There are plenty of dorm room supplies marketed as dorm room essentials, but a large number of them take up more space in a dorm than they’re worth. They key is to find storage solutions that take advantage of otherwise unused space.

• Under Bed Storage

  Whether you choose to bunk your beds or to use the my side your side model, there’s going to be some amount of space available under your bed. Don’t let it go to waste. There are plenty of options for under bed storage, but your best options are the long, flat storage containers with wheels. This isn’t the place to keep things you’ll be using every day. Though it’s tempting to keep underwear or socks under there, you won’t want to have to pull it out every morning. It’s more for that weird stuff you just had to pack. Squirtgun? Under the bed. Holiday dorm decorations? Under the bed.

• Organizing Your Closet

  This is one of the most critical dorm room organization choices you’re going to make. Setting up your closet in a savvy way can really save you some space, especially since dorm closets are notoriously small. You’ll want to find ways to maximize your hanging space, so think about rod doublers to increase your hanging space and sweater bags for storing folded clothes. A set of shelves can also help you store some of those little things that you don’t want cluttering up the top of your dresser.

• Using Your Desk Space

  This is one of the most underused components of dorm room organization. The less stuff you can have cluttering up your workspace, the better, and yet so often the surfaces of college desks get cluttered with paper, pencils, coffee mugs, and who knows what else. One major helper for desk space organization is a chair pocket. Often forgotten, chair pockets slip right over the top of your desk chair and provide space on the back for pencils, paper, and all those other things you need handy, but don’t want sitting on, under, or around your computer. This saves you from needing one of those pencil cups and lets you use your bookshelf for actual books instead of work supplies. Plus, a chair pocket on your desk chair means you won’t have to get up and wander around to find the things you need.

Maximizing your dorm space is a major component of dorm decoration, and can make the difference between a cluttered, stressful space and a fun, relaxing one. With a little planning, you can design a dorm that affords space for fun, stores all your stuff, and doesn’t stress you out so much that you can’t get your work done. Even if it’s just your half, an organized dorm is a happy dorm. To learn more, read this.